Notes: (Topic 3.

15) Rates of Change in Polar Functions Solutions

In this section, we will learn ways that we can describe characteristics of the graph of a polar function.

Given a polar function r = f (q ) , we know that r represents the “signed radius” of the function. We use the phrase
“signed radius” because r can be a positive or negative value.

As we trace the graph of a polar function, we are interested in whether the graph of r = f (q ) is getting closer to the
origin or further from the origin over a given interval.

Changes in the Distance from 𝒓 = 𝒇(𝜽) to the Origin

r = f (q ) is positive
and increasing The distance between r = f (q )
r = f (q ) is negative and the origin is increasing
and decreasing

r = f (q ) is positive
and decreasing The distance between r = f (q )
r = f (q ) is negative and the origin is decreasing
and increasing f (q ) = 1 + 2sin q

Example 1: The graph of f ( x ) = 1 + 2sin x is shown below for 0 £ x £ 2p . Use the graph below to complete the
given table with the appropriate intervals.
Description of 𝒇(𝒙) Interval(s)
𝜋
0≤𝑥<
f is positive and increasing 2
11𝜋
< 𝑥 < 2𝜋
6
𝜋 7𝜋
f is positive and decreasing <𝑥<
2 6
3𝜋 11𝜋
f is negative and increasing <𝑥<
2 6
7𝜋 3𝜋
f is negative and decreasing <𝑥<
6 2
In the polar coordinate system, the graph of f ( x ) = 1 + 2sin x above becomes f (q ) = 1 + 2sin q , as shown in the table
above. The labeled points A, B, C, and D correspond to the intervals found in Example 1.

Points on f (q ) From A to B From B to C From C to D From D to C From C to A

p p 7p 7p 3p 3p 11p 11p
Interval 0 <q < <q < <q < <q < < q < 2p
2 2 6 6 2 2 6 6
positive and positive and negative and negative and positive and
r = f (q ) is
increasing decreasing decreasing increasing increasing
Distance between
increasing decreasing increasing decreasing increasing
f (q ) and the origin is

Notes: Topic 3.15 Rates of Change in Polar Functions Created by Bryan Passwater
Solutions by Ted Gott [email protected]
AP Exam Tip: It is often helpful to sketch the graph of a given function in rectangular coordinates when attempting to
describe the behavior of a polar function.

Example 2: Consider the graph of the polar function r = f (q ) , where f (q ) = 2 - 4cosq , in the polar coordinate
system for 0 £ q £ 2p . Which of the following statements is true about the distance between the point with polar
coordinates ( f (q ) , q ) and the origin?
5p
(A) The distance is increasing for p < q < , because f (q ) is positive and increasing on the interval.
3
5p
(B) The distance is increasing for < q < 2p , because f (q ) is negative and increasing on the interval.
3
5p
(C) The distance is decreasing for p < q < , because f (q ) is positive and decreasing on the interval.
3
5p
(D) The distance is decreasing for < q < 2p , because f (q ) is negative and decreasing on the interval.
3

Graph of f ( x )

3p
Example 3: The graph of f ( x ) = 3sin ( 2 x ) , where 0 £ x £ is shown above in the rectangular coordinate system.
2
3p
If the polar function r = f (q ) , where f (q ) = 3sin ( 2q ) , is graphed in the polar coordinate system for 0 £ q £ ,
2
on which of the following intervals is the distance between the point with polar coordinates ( f (q ) , q ) and the origin
decreasing?
p p 3p 3p 5p
(A) 0 < q < (B) <q < (C) <q <p (D) p < q <
4 2 4 4 4
𝑓(𝜃) is negative and increasing so distance between the point and the origin is decreasing.
Notes: Topic 3.15 Rates of Change in Polar Functions Created by Bryan Passwater
Solutions by Ted Gott [email protected]
Relative Extrema and Polar Functions
Another characteristic that arises when we study polar functions are relative extrema (minima and maxima). For polar
functions, if r = f (q ) changes from increasing to decreasing (or from decreasing to increasing), then the function has a
relative extremum on the interval corresponding to a point relatively closest to or farthest from the origin.

Example 4: Consider the graph of the polar function r = f (q ) , where f (q ) = 1 - 2sin ( 2q ) , in the polar coordinate
system for 0 £ q £ p . Which of the following statements is true about the graph of r = f (q ) ?
p 2p
(A) The graph of r = f (q ) has a relative minimum on the interval <q < , because r = f (q ) changes from
3 3
negative to positive. r does change from negative to positive but that does not indicate a relative minimum.
2p
(B) The graph of r = f (q ) has a relative minimum on the interval < q < p , because r = f (q ) changes from
3
decreasing to increasing. r changes from increasing to decreasing.
p 2p
(C) The graph of r = f (q ) has a relative maximum on the interval <q < , because r = f (q ) changes from
3 3
positive to negative. . r changes from negative to positive.
2p
(D) The graph of r = f (q ) has a relative maximum on the interval < q < p , because r = f (q ) changes from
3
increasing to decreasing. r changes from increasing to decreasing indicating a relative maximum on the interval.

Average Rate of Change

In previous units, we learned about the average rate of change of a function in rectangular coordinates. In the polar
coordinate system, we will find the average rate of change of r with respect to q over a given interval of q .

Average Rate of Change of a Polar Function

For the polar function r = f (q ) , the average rate of

change of r = f (q ) over the interval a £ q £ b is given Geometrically, the average rate of change indicates the
rate at which the radius is changing per radian.
f (b) - f ( a )
by the expression .
b-a

Example 5: Consider the graph of the polar function r = f (q ) , where f (q ) = 3 - 3cosq , in the polar coordinate
p
system. What is the average rate of change of r = f (q ) over the interval £q £p ?
2
𝜋
𝑓(𝜋) − 𝑓 @ A [3 − 3(−1)] − [3 − 3(0)] 6 − 3 3 6
Average rate of change = 2 = = 𝜋 =𝜋=
𝜋 𝜋 𝜋
𝜋−
2 2 2 2

Notes: Topic 3.15 Rates of Change in Polar Functions Created by Bryan Passwater
Solutions by Ted Gott [email protected]
Example 6: The figure shows the graph of the polar function r = f (q ) , where f (q ) = 3sin ( 2q ) for 0 £ q £ 2p , in
the polar coordinate system. On which of the following intervals is the average rate of change of f (q ) equal to zero?
p 3p 3p 5p 3p 7p p 7p
(A) £q £ (B) £q £ (C) £q £ (D) £q £
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
The average rate of change is zero because the r value is −3 at both values of 𝜃.

Example 7: In the polar coordinate system, the graph of a polar function r = f (q ) is shown with a domain of all real
values of q for 0 £ q £ 2p . On this interval of q , the graph has no holes, passes through each point exactly one time,
and as q increases, the graph passes through the labeled points A, B, C, and D, in that order. On which of the following
intervals is the average rate of change of r with respect to q least?
(A) From A to B average rate of change is zero
(B) From B to C average rate of change is positive because r increased.
(C) From C to D average rate of change is zero
(D) From D to A average rate of change is negative because r decreased.

Notes: Topic 3.15 Rates of Change in Polar Functions Created by Bryan Passwater
Solutions by Ted Gott [email protected]
Estimating Values of 𝒓 = 𝒇(𝜽) Using the Average Rate of Change
For a given interval, we can use the average rate of change of r = f (q ) over the interval to estimate other values of
r = f (q ) inside the given interval.

Recall: The point-slope form of a line is given by y - y1 = m ( x - x1 ) , where ( x1 , y1 ) is a known point on the line and
m is the slope of the line.

We can utilize this concept and create a linear function that will help us approximate a given polar function. We will use
the average rate of change of r with respect to q as our slope, and we can use a point at either end of the given interval
as our given point. This leads us to the following
f (b) - f ( a )
f (q ) » f (q1 ) + (q - q1 ) ,
b-a
where ( f (q ) , q ) is a known point on the graph of r = f (q ) , and the average rate of change of r = f (q ) with respect
1 1

f (b ) - f ( a )
to q over the interval a £ q £ b is given by .
b-a

p 7p
q
6 6
f (q ) 2 -1

Example 8: The table above gives values of the polar function r = f (q ) at selected values of q . Use the average rate
p 7p æ 5p ö
of change of r = f (q ) over the interval £q £ to approximate f ç ÷.
6 6 è 6 ø
7𝜋 𝜋
5𝜋 𝜋 𝑓 @ 6 A − 𝑓 @6A 5𝜋 𝜋 −1 − 2 5𝜋 𝜋 3 4𝜋 12
𝑓F H ≈ 𝑓@ A+ F − H=2+ F − H=2− F H=2− =2−2=0
6 6 7𝜋 𝜋 6 6 𝜋 6 6 𝜋 6 6
6 − 6

Notes: Topic 3.15 Rates of Change in Polar Functions Created by Bryan Passwater
Solutions by Ted Gott [email protected]